Global Val LAUNCHED "Women's Magazine" on KPFA 94.1 last week...but you can still liisten to the Oct. 29, 2012, show by going to:
www.kpfawomensmag.blogspot.com
Episode 1: October 29th 2012, 1-2pm
Women from The Peace Alliance talk about how they are actively and voluntarily lobbying to create a U.S. Department of Peace (HR 808) as well as the Youth PROMISE Act (HR 2721). We also hear from the inspiring Director of a self-made youth development organization in East Palo Alto called Lauren's House 4 Positive Change.
BE SURE TO VOTE FOR MORE SHOWS WITH VAL (of Mutiny Radio) in the top right corner:
www.kpfawomensmag.blogspot.com
Episode 2: November 5th 2012, 1-2pm
"Election of Eve"
Listen in as my co-host, Molly, and I talk to a variety of go-getter guests, including: Christina Lopez, Vice Presidential candidate for the Freedom-Socialist party, Patty Bellasalma and Stacy Malkin, from CA NOW who will be providing knowledgeable insight on some of California's most important ballot measures, as well as Janet Weil, of CODE PINK, talking about abolishing the death penalty and the group's recent delegation to Pakistan. It's a pre-election show NOT TO BE MISSED!
Episode 3: KPFA 94.1 Date TBA (But will be live on MutinyRadio.org on Nov. 16th, 1-2pm)
"Shedding Light on an Invisible War: Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma"
We'll speak with two brave women from Veterans for Peace who are speaking out about the atrocious lack of justice and recourse for soldiers in the U.S. military who are victims of rape. A recent film called "The Invisible War" highlights this pressing issue and we stand at a historic time to reevaluate the very core of military impunity.
There are several ways to listen live, but you can always go to kpfa.org > archives > search the date > Women's Magazine...voila!
KPFA 94.1 FM (24k mp3)
KPFB 89.3 FM (16k mp3)
Comcast Digital Cable 967
iPhone: Public Radio App
Android: TuneIn Radio App
WebOS: Public Radio App
KPFA Live Stream Channel = kpfa.org
Let's get to Episodes 3 & 4 & beyond!
BE SURE TO VOTE FOR MORE SHOWS WITH VAL (of Mutiny Radio) in the top right corner:
www.kpfawomensmag.blogspot.com
Thank you & Peace,
Global Val
Mutiny Radio & KPFA 94.1
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Global Val joins KPFA 94.1!
In the first of its kind collaboration, Mutiny Radio will be heard on KPFA 94.1 on Monday, October 29th, 1-2pm, with yours truly, Global Val!
The Producers of Women's Magazine on KPFA 94.1, approached me to join their production team. I met Kate Raphael of Women's Magazine at "Women, Speak Out!" a workshop held by the host of "Your Call" on KALW, Rose Aguilar. The workshop was addressing how women, who are under-represented in the news media, can better ensure that pro-active and knowledgeable women utilize their expertise and intuition to contribute vital voices to the dialogue of important global issues.
Women's Magazine on KPFA was created in 2005 to ensure a diversity of voices on the airwaves. The show highlights women's issues, lives, culture, music, struggles and achievements. I am honored and excited to join the production team of Women's Magazine on KPFA 94.1 and will be interviewing 'Women Changing the World!'
I will be producing a weekly show at Mutiny Radio, and from those episodes, produce a monthly edition that will air on KPFA. At Mutiny Radio, we learn from and train one another, and so I will be working with a new member of the Mutiny Radio Collective, Molly Hankwitz. With Molly's background in digital media and my radio experience, the two of us will collaborate to produce quality programming.
DON'T FRET! I will still be happily at my post for all the fun as Co-Hostess and Co-Producer of "The Common Thread Collective" with Diamond Dave & Friends, every Friday 3-6pm at Mutiny. News, views, and the People's open-mic!
WHEN CAN I TUNE IN?
[all shows will be archived/podcast on the respective websites]
WEEKLY: Fridays 1-2pm on MutinyRadio.org "Women's Magazine"
WEEKLY: Fridays 3-6pm on MutinyRadio.org "The Common Thread Collective/Diamond Dave"
MONTHLY: Mondays 1-2pm KPFA 94.1 & kpfa.org "Women's Magazine"
EPISODE 1: "Creating a U.S. Department of Peace" - Women from "The Peace Alliance" talk about lobbying Congress to create a U.S. Department of Peace, and to pass the Youth PROMISE Act, which would benefit community-based organizations working to provide much needed violence prevention, intervention and rehabilitation programs. We will also hear from the founder of one such youth development organization, Lauren's House 4 Positive Change of East Palo Alto.
* Streams from www.mutinyradio.org on Friday, October 26th, 1-2pm
* Airs on KPFA 94.1 on Monday, October 29th, 1-2pm
EPISODE 2: "Election Eve"
We talk to experts and activists from N.O.W. and Code Pink about hot political topics facing California and the nation. We'll also muse on the notion of electing a female President.
*Streams on MutinyRadio.org on Friday, Nov. 2nd, 1-2pm
*Airs on KPFA 94.1 on Monday, November 5th, 1-2pm
NOTE & VOTE: Coming soon ~ there will be a poll on the 'Women's Magazine' blog asking if people want to hear more Mutiny episodes on WM, kpfawomensmag.blogspot.com ...so please go to the blog and vote for it. People can also tweet #mutiny to @kpfawomensmag and it will also be put on Facebook.
Just when you think your aspirations are outrageous, remember...inspiration is contagious! So spread the word.
Thanks to you, to Mutiny Radio, and to KPFA!
Val Ibarra
The Producers of Women's Magazine on KPFA 94.1, approached me to join their production team. I met Kate Raphael of Women's Magazine at "Women, Speak Out!" a workshop held by the host of "Your Call" on KALW, Rose Aguilar. The workshop was addressing how women, who are under-represented in the news media, can better ensure that pro-active and knowledgeable women utilize their expertise and intuition to contribute vital voices to the dialogue of important global issues.
Women's Magazine on KPFA was created in 2005 to ensure a diversity of voices on the airwaves. The show highlights women's issues, lives, culture, music, struggles and achievements. I am honored and excited to join the production team of Women's Magazine on KPFA 94.1 and will be interviewing 'Women Changing the World!'
I will be producing a weekly show at Mutiny Radio, and from those episodes, produce a monthly edition that will air on KPFA. At Mutiny Radio, we learn from and train one another, and so I will be working with a new member of the Mutiny Radio Collective, Molly Hankwitz. With Molly's background in digital media and my radio experience, the two of us will collaborate to produce quality programming.
DON'T FRET! I will still be happily at my post for all the fun as Co-Hostess and Co-Producer of "The Common Thread Collective" with Diamond Dave & Friends, every Friday 3-6pm at Mutiny. News, views, and the People's open-mic!
WHEN CAN I TUNE IN?
[all shows will be archived/podcast on the respective websites]
WEEKLY: Fridays 1-2pm on MutinyRadio.org "Women's Magazine"
WEEKLY: Fridays 3-6pm on MutinyRadio.org "The Common Thread Collective/Diamond Dave"
MONTHLY: Mondays 1-2pm KPFA 94.1 & kpfa.org "Women's Magazine"
EPISODE 1: "Creating a U.S. Department of Peace" - Women from "The Peace Alliance" talk about lobbying Congress to create a U.S. Department of Peace, and to pass the Youth PROMISE Act, which would benefit community-based organizations working to provide much needed violence prevention, intervention and rehabilitation programs. We will also hear from the founder of one such youth development organization, Lauren's House 4 Positive Change of East Palo Alto.
* Streams from www.mutinyradio.org on Friday, October 26th, 1-2pm
* Airs on KPFA 94.1 on Monday, October 29th, 1-2pm
EPISODE 2: "Election Eve"
We talk to experts and activists from N.O.W. and Code Pink about hot political topics facing California and the nation. We'll also muse on the notion of electing a female President.
*Streams on MutinyRadio.org on Friday, Nov. 2nd, 1-2pm
*Airs on KPFA 94.1 on Monday, November 5th, 1-2pm
NOTE & VOTE: Coming soon ~ there will be a poll on the 'Women's Magazine' blog asking if people want to hear more Mutiny episodes on WM, kpfawomensmag.blogspot.com ...so please go to the blog and vote for it. People can also tweet #mutiny to @kpfawomensmag and it will also be put on Facebook.
Just when you think your aspirations are outrageous, remember...inspiration is contagious! So spread the word.
Thanks to you, to Mutiny Radio, and to KPFA!
Val Ibarra
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Planned MUNI cameras cross the line
June 11, 2012
After reading in the SF Examiner “Cameras to keep eye on threats at Muni stations” (Will Reisman 6/11/2012), I’m appalled and fearful of not the other patrons on Muni, but of the people who are running this particular system and choosing to put in these cameras in place. These experimental high tech cameras will be paid for with state and federal grants and are slated to be rolled out early next year at the cost of $3.6 million dollars.
The SFMTA is set to install 400 high tech cameras that are designed to detect “abnormal behavior and subsequently alert authorities about potential safety risks.” Using behavioral recognition software, these can detect large gatherings at underground stations, unattended packages and cars on the train tracks. It would then pass that information to central command, which could then stop nearby trains.
Let’s look at each part.
If we’re going pick up on large gatherings at stations, wouldn’t that be every morning, when there can be upwards of 200 people waiting on the platform for a train? I think so. But really, this is clearly in response to protests and gatherings that have come about in the past couple of years, not on Muni, but on BART. There were protests on BART after both the 2009 New Year’s killing of Oscar Grant by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle, and again in 2011 when BART police shot and killed a drunk man, Charles Hill, at Civic Center. The latter prompted BART to shut off cell phone access in an effort to prevent another protest gathering on the BART system, which only lead to more outrage. There have been no such protests on Muni. Yet, in this day and age, with more people standing up and protesting against large corporate government, it seems all too fitting that the growing domestic security forces want to increase and experiment with crowd control.
The cameras will also supposedly detect and report unattended packages. Again, Muni has not been targeted for any terrorist activity of the sort. Traditionally, any packages or belongings that are left behind are promptly reported to the Muni staff as we often receive announcements if anyone has seen a blue shopping bag or a black jacket with keys in the pocket. I think most people are aware of what they bring on the bus and what they leave behind…except, of course, for those untidy patrons who think that the bus is the best place to leave their trash. Muni stations are not airports. Nor should we be paying police officers or security officers to act as lost-and-found hall monitors.
Next we go onto the detection of abnormal behavior. Now, welcome to SF, folks. What’s normal? Can anybody spell that word here? Muni spokesman, Paul Rose said, “This is not profiling, but rather behavioral analytics that can determine common trends on the system and use that information to detect abnormalities.” Although the word ‘racial’ is not used here, nor is the word ‘radical’, there is a lot they are not telling us about what they purport will raise an alert. If these cameras are, “about increasing safety and security”, perhaps they mean threatening behavior? That explanation, however, has not been defined.
Does that mean that it would peg my activity as abnormal if I’m looking out the window or reading a book when everyone else around me has their heads hung looking at their PDAs in their hands? Would I be detected for smiling, or whistling a tune, or telling the driver to have a nice day? All of these things are currently abnormal, so far as I can tell, and I ride Muni all the time, and have for the gross majority – and I mean gross majority – of my life as a San Francisco native.
As a lifelong Muni rider, I can confidently say that most riders do want a safe, quiet, peaceful ride. They don’t want to feel threatened or bothered. Currently, few of these basic necessities are met. We’re met with screeching doors when they’re not able to close properly, a brand new Clipper system which sends out high frequency sound waves that echo every time somebody tags their card (which still doesn’t make sense to me why someone with a monthly pass would need to ‘register’ their ride every time…If you’ve already paid, why do they need to know where you’re going?). Also, a safe ride means not having overcrowded busses and trains, and yet every day, people cram into the cars that don’t come frequently enough or arrive as only single-cars during commute hours. There are a variety of hazards that come with it, such as swinging into other patrons or having your balance knocked off kilter from fast stops or rugged streets.
Also, on the rare occasion that a car enters a Muni tunnel by accident, there are always witnesses or other video cameras to detect it promptly and prevent injury.
We’re forgetting the biggest key to riding public transportation anywhere in the world: self-awareness, awareness of your surroundings. Understand that tuning out from other riders doesn’t always mean it’s the safest thing to do. It’s not the state or the federal government’s responsibility to hold onto your cell phone tighter or keep you from making bad decisions about who you sit near or talk back to. It’s not even the driver’s responsibility. It’s the responsibility of each and every passenger who decides to take public transit.
Certainly, we want it to be safe. But being surveilled or made to think that anything we do to step out of line may possibly be considered as a breach of security does not make me feel safe. Nor does it make me think that public resources are going to the right places. Why isn’t that $3.6 million being designated to increase and improve our fleet? And if you think about the nature of public transit, how quick would a response really be? There’s no guarantee that any sort of theft or violence would be intercepted in a timely manner. We’re talking about MUNI and the SFPD, neither of which has a great reputation for showing up when you need them.
The most dangerous part of all is that this “contract” - between the SFMTA and the State/Federal government – did not require the approval of the SFMTA board of directors. Chairman of the Board, Tom Nolan, was quoted as saying, “Cameras are ubiquitous now…You just have to assume that someone is always watching you.” In the United States of America, which is supposed to be a free country, I don’t think someone with that attitude should be in a position of public authority. Privacy is a human right that gets grossly violated constantly. That doesn’t mean that it’s justifiable for a public transit system to try to monitor oddities under the false guise of safety. The safe move would be to reject complacency for this gross violation of experimental security designed to keep people in line in a free country.
After reading in the SF Examiner “Cameras to keep eye on threats at Muni stations” (Will Reisman 6/11/2012), I’m appalled and fearful of not the other patrons on Muni, but of the people who are running this particular system and choosing to put in these cameras in place. These experimental high tech cameras will be paid for with state and federal grants and are slated to be rolled out early next year at the cost of $3.6 million dollars.
The SFMTA is set to install 400 high tech cameras that are designed to detect “abnormal behavior and subsequently alert authorities about potential safety risks.” Using behavioral recognition software, these can detect large gatherings at underground stations, unattended packages and cars on the train tracks. It would then pass that information to central command, which could then stop nearby trains.
Let’s look at each part.
If we’re going pick up on large gatherings at stations, wouldn’t that be every morning, when there can be upwards of 200 people waiting on the platform for a train? I think so. But really, this is clearly in response to protests and gatherings that have come about in the past couple of years, not on Muni, but on BART. There were protests on BART after both the 2009 New Year’s killing of Oscar Grant by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle, and again in 2011 when BART police shot and killed a drunk man, Charles Hill, at Civic Center. The latter prompted BART to shut off cell phone access in an effort to prevent another protest gathering on the BART system, which only lead to more outrage. There have been no such protests on Muni. Yet, in this day and age, with more people standing up and protesting against large corporate government, it seems all too fitting that the growing domestic security forces want to increase and experiment with crowd control.
The cameras will also supposedly detect and report unattended packages. Again, Muni has not been targeted for any terrorist activity of the sort. Traditionally, any packages or belongings that are left behind are promptly reported to the Muni staff as we often receive announcements if anyone has seen a blue shopping bag or a black jacket with keys in the pocket. I think most people are aware of what they bring on the bus and what they leave behind…except, of course, for those untidy patrons who think that the bus is the best place to leave their trash. Muni stations are not airports. Nor should we be paying police officers or security officers to act as lost-and-found hall monitors.
Next we go onto the detection of abnormal behavior. Now, welcome to SF, folks. What’s normal? Can anybody spell that word here? Muni spokesman, Paul Rose said, “This is not profiling, but rather behavioral analytics that can determine common trends on the system and use that information to detect abnormalities.” Although the word ‘racial’ is not used here, nor is the word ‘radical’, there is a lot they are not telling us about what they purport will raise an alert. If these cameras are, “about increasing safety and security”, perhaps they mean threatening behavior? That explanation, however, has not been defined.
Does that mean that it would peg my activity as abnormal if I’m looking out the window or reading a book when everyone else around me has their heads hung looking at their PDAs in their hands? Would I be detected for smiling, or whistling a tune, or telling the driver to have a nice day? All of these things are currently abnormal, so far as I can tell, and I ride Muni all the time, and have for the gross majority – and I mean gross majority – of my life as a San Francisco native.
As a lifelong Muni rider, I can confidently say that most riders do want a safe, quiet, peaceful ride. They don’t want to feel threatened or bothered. Currently, few of these basic necessities are met. We’re met with screeching doors when they’re not able to close properly, a brand new Clipper system which sends out high frequency sound waves that echo every time somebody tags their card (which still doesn’t make sense to me why someone with a monthly pass would need to ‘register’ their ride every time…If you’ve already paid, why do they need to know where you’re going?). Also, a safe ride means not having overcrowded busses and trains, and yet every day, people cram into the cars that don’t come frequently enough or arrive as only single-cars during commute hours. There are a variety of hazards that come with it, such as swinging into other patrons or having your balance knocked off kilter from fast stops or rugged streets.
Also, on the rare occasion that a car enters a Muni tunnel by accident, there are always witnesses or other video cameras to detect it promptly and prevent injury.
We’re forgetting the biggest key to riding public transportation anywhere in the world: self-awareness, awareness of your surroundings. Understand that tuning out from other riders doesn’t always mean it’s the safest thing to do. It’s not the state or the federal government’s responsibility to hold onto your cell phone tighter or keep you from making bad decisions about who you sit near or talk back to. It’s not even the driver’s responsibility. It’s the responsibility of each and every passenger who decides to take public transit.
Certainly, we want it to be safe. But being surveilled or made to think that anything we do to step out of line may possibly be considered as a breach of security does not make me feel safe. Nor does it make me think that public resources are going to the right places. Why isn’t that $3.6 million being designated to increase and improve our fleet? And if you think about the nature of public transit, how quick would a response really be? There’s no guarantee that any sort of theft or violence would be intercepted in a timely manner. We’re talking about MUNI and the SFPD, neither of which has a great reputation for showing up when you need them.
The most dangerous part of all is that this “contract” - between the SFMTA and the State/Federal government – did not require the approval of the SFMTA board of directors. Chairman of the Board, Tom Nolan, was quoted as saying, “Cameras are ubiquitous now…You just have to assume that someone is always watching you.” In the United States of America, which is supposed to be a free country, I don’t think someone with that attitude should be in a position of public authority. Privacy is a human right that gets grossly violated constantly. That doesn’t mean that it’s justifiable for a public transit system to try to monitor oddities under the false guise of safety. The safe move would be to reject complacency for this gross violation of experimental security designed to keep people in line in a free country.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Occupy Wall Street West _ Morning Hours
With an amalgam of Occupation demonstrations scheduled and already in action for today, January 20th, 2012, here are some observations from downtown San Francisco.
(8:30-8:50 am)
1. Upon exiting Embarcadero Station, several police officers (6-8), some of whom were visibly wearing kevlar (bullet-proof) vests stood conversing with one another. Two of the men were wearing black jackets that read "Department of Homeland Security" on the back. As I stood there and watched them for a moment, they seemed to be unclear about their duties. The men in DHS jackets were trying to give them instructions, but couldn't seem to make up their minds.That is, they would tell one or two officers to go down the stairs toward the BART trains, but then call them back. Not frantic, but confused.
2. Upon reaching the street level, in front of the Federal Reseve Building at 101 Market Street, there was no encampment in front of the building, but one block further west, there was a large group of protesters marching in the west-bound lane of traffic. It had a large (affiliated?) bus lurching along behind them. Behind the bus were two SFPD bike cops. The group looked to have at least 50 people,and seemed to be undetered by the morning rain.
3. At the Ferry Plaze (not Justin Herman)at the end of Market St., where the vendors usually set up, were three tents and a large group of people, both milling about and organizing for the day's events. In front of the plaza were rows of vans, meter maids cars, and a couple of cop cars parked. As I walked toward the gathering and past the City vehicles, I overheard one of the employees greet another who'd just come on duty, "It's been like this since 6 in the morning!"
A group of about 15 people was gathered around two individuals who were giving instructions for safety and action. They suggested forming groups, finding a buddy, and gave out the legal phone number they could call if they happen to get arrested. In the background, others were organizing signs and bull horns, while others still were already holding signs in the open walkways of the plaza.
4. For several weeks, Occupy SF was camped out in Justin Herman Plaza, and now deferentially refer to it as Bradley Manning Plaza in solidarity with the young American enlistee who released information to Wikileaks early last year. The OCCUPY SF camp at JHP/BMP was shut down a few weeks ago and has been blocked off by barricdes. The entry steps to the park are blocked with Park & Rec signs that read "Closed for Renovation" and the internal grass area is blocked off by metal barricades. Apparently, the "renovations" are to re-grow the small lawn area...so, of course, they had the SPRINKLERS running in the rain. Ahhhhh, City governance!
(8:30-8:50 am)
1. Upon exiting Embarcadero Station, several police officers (6-8), some of whom were visibly wearing kevlar (bullet-proof) vests stood conversing with one another. Two of the men were wearing black jackets that read "Department of Homeland Security" on the back. As I stood there and watched them for a moment, they seemed to be unclear about their duties. The men in DHS jackets were trying to give them instructions, but couldn't seem to make up their minds.That is, they would tell one or two officers to go down the stairs toward the BART trains, but then call them back. Not frantic, but confused.
2. Upon reaching the street level, in front of the Federal Reseve Building at 101 Market Street, there was no encampment in front of the building, but one block further west, there was a large group of protesters marching in the west-bound lane of traffic. It had a large (affiliated?) bus lurching along behind them. Behind the bus were two SFPD bike cops. The group looked to have at least 50 people,and seemed to be undetered by the morning rain.
3. At the Ferry Plaze (not Justin Herman)at the end of Market St., where the vendors usually set up, were three tents and a large group of people, both milling about and organizing for the day's events. In front of the plaza were rows of vans, meter maids cars, and a couple of cop cars parked. As I walked toward the gathering and past the City vehicles, I overheard one of the employees greet another who'd just come on duty, "It's been like this since 6 in the morning!"
A group of about 15 people was gathered around two individuals who were giving instructions for safety and action. They suggested forming groups, finding a buddy, and gave out the legal phone number they could call if they happen to get arrested. In the background, others were organizing signs and bull horns, while others still were already holding signs in the open walkways of the plaza.
4. For several weeks, Occupy SF was camped out in Justin Herman Plaza, and now deferentially refer to it as Bradley Manning Plaza in solidarity with the young American enlistee who released information to Wikileaks early last year. The OCCUPY SF camp at JHP/BMP was shut down a few weeks ago and has been blocked off by barricdes. The entry steps to the park are blocked with Park & Rec signs that read "Closed for Renovation" and the internal grass area is blocked off by metal barricades. Apparently, the "renovations" are to re-grow the small lawn area...so, of course, they had the SPRINKLERS running in the rain. Ahhhhh, City governance!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
2012 Intentions
With 2012 being a year that many have been anticipating as a time of change, I want to talk about some ways we can change the world. This can be both a top-down and a ground-up road to a healthier world.
Start BIG...
1. Nuclear Disarmament: War over weapons is absurd and hurts all of humanity and the planet. If humans can't get together and demand that the governments that purport to represent or protect us immediately HALT the manufacture and begin to disassemble all nuclear weapons, what else can we expect of ourselves?
2. Independent & Community Organic Farming: For the immediate benefit of self/family/community, this is something you can start in a pot of dirt smaller than your television. If anyone hopes to dislodge Big Agriculture - an industry that bullies American farmers and floods the market (and our bodies) with genetically modified, dusted with pesticide, overly processed foods - then you can start at home.
3. Stop Buying Crap You Don't Need with money You Don't Have: In other words, don't misuse your credit card to buy (plastic) crap that might only bring someone a 'disposable' moment of joy. There are better ways to make the people in your life happy. Furthermore, invest in what you need and not what you don't. Think about our shared environment, and be inspired to reuse and recycle as much as possible.
4. Human Reconnection via Less Dependence on Non-Human Contact: Let's use technology as a tool and not as a substitute for socialization. Teach your children to make eye contact and to step outside the boxes.
5. Reclaim Citizens' Rights in this Country: Refuse to accept the legitimacy of laws that work against the People by trying to compromise our birth rights. Brush up on The Bill of Rights and compare it to, say, The Patriot Act, the Supreme Court's decision in 'Citizens United', and the recent Defense Authorization Bill that tries to trump Habeus Corpus...and ask yourself, which one makes you feel safe?
6. Don't freak out!: If you're waiting for "the apocalypse" to bring fire & brimstone, you're gonna wake up the next day in a smokey wasteland...
...because we will become what we envision, find ourselves face to face with our focus and our distractions. So, look up, look deep and remind yourself of what we all want:
Peace in our communities. Healthy Resources. Love to nourish us.
Can you picture that...?
*This can be heard on The Common Thread Collective at www.mutinyradio.org on the Podcast from December 30, 2011. These will be running themes that will appear in future shows.
Start BIG...
1. Nuclear Disarmament: War over weapons is absurd and hurts all of humanity and the planet. If humans can't get together and demand that the governments that purport to represent or protect us immediately HALT the manufacture and begin to disassemble all nuclear weapons, what else can we expect of ourselves?
2. Independent & Community Organic Farming: For the immediate benefit of self/family/community, this is something you can start in a pot of dirt smaller than your television. If anyone hopes to dislodge Big Agriculture - an industry that bullies American farmers and floods the market (and our bodies) with genetically modified, dusted with pesticide, overly processed foods - then you can start at home.
3. Stop Buying Crap You Don't Need with money You Don't Have: In other words, don't misuse your credit card to buy (plastic) crap that might only bring someone a 'disposable' moment of joy. There are better ways to make the people in your life happy. Furthermore, invest in what you need and not what you don't. Think about our shared environment, and be inspired to reuse and recycle as much as possible.
4. Human Reconnection via Less Dependence on Non-Human Contact: Let's use technology as a tool and not as a substitute for socialization. Teach your children to make eye contact and to step outside the boxes.
5. Reclaim Citizens' Rights in this Country: Refuse to accept the legitimacy of laws that work against the People by trying to compromise our birth rights. Brush up on The Bill of Rights and compare it to, say, The Patriot Act, the Supreme Court's decision in 'Citizens United', and the recent Defense Authorization Bill that tries to trump Habeus Corpus...and ask yourself, which one makes you feel safe?
6. Don't freak out!: If you're waiting for "the apocalypse" to bring fire & brimstone, you're gonna wake up the next day in a smokey wasteland...
...because we will become what we envision, find ourselves face to face with our focus and our distractions. So, look up, look deep and remind yourself of what we all want:
Peace in our communities. Healthy Resources. Love to nourish us.
Can you picture that...?
*This can be heard on The Common Thread Collective at www.mutinyradio.org on the Podcast from December 30, 2011. These will be running themes that will appear in future shows.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
